Holiday Shopping, Carousels, and You.

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Last year, I wrote a little piece on Black Friday where I touted why I was going to “miss” Black Friday. And I cited reasons for not participating. Here’s the 2012 version: 

• Avoiding having to see people pushing, shoving, and getting into cat fights!
• Being wedged in with screaming, angry, desperate people! Hello, claustrophobia!
• Standing on line for a half hour all for the sake of saving five dollars!

Need I say more?

Instead, I took a short drive from my home to Santa Monica since I had only 
visited the famous pier there once before. It’s quite different from decades ago and has a rich history. There was once (as there were on many piers I’ve since learned, a huge ballroom, in the days before TV, where home entertainment encompassed huddling around the radio to hear a favorite program. 

The famous sign from 1940!

Thankfully, the pier had a section that told the story of the pier via several glass enclosed displays with copy and plenty of great photos.

I truly appreciated that. Lately, since I’ve just started watching the show Boardwalk Empire, my interest in how people lived almost 100 years ago has opened wide. 

Kids are enchanted by it!

Oh, and the carousel! Philadelphia Toboggan Company, #62. Surprisingly, there was little information about this merry-go-round posted in the building it was housed it. The structure surrounding it, now known as the Santa Monica Looff Hippodrome dates from 1916

However, the carousel within is not original to the building. What is now known as the Santa Monica Looff Hippodrome was built in 1922 and moved from a park in Venice CA to Santa Monica in 1947. The first carousel was sold in 1939 and replaced by a Parker carousel which was housed there only for a few years. Sadly, there appears to be no information on the fate of the original Looff carousel; chances are that it was disassembled and the beautiful hand carvings were sold off.

Let’s focus on the beautiful merry-go-rounds that are left; scattered around the United States for us to enjoy! Thankfully, both the building and the carousel are designated National Historic Landmarks since 1987; how wonderful is that! And the carousel is one of only three that have been designated as landmarks. Santa Cruz, hello; you need to add the historic 1911 Looff that’s one of the few remaining which allows a rider to ‘catch the brass ring’ to that list.

Just think. On Black Friday, I gained knowledge, was out in the foggy day strolling on a pier (a little exercise!), getting some great sight-seeing in, keeping my sanity, and now I have the opportunity to share a little piece of history with all of you. And while I was watching the carousel go round and some folks were going round and round in a parking lot searching for that elusive parking spot. Whatever you did on Black Friday I hope it was enjoyable! 

The Hollies tune below is dedicated to everyone who shopped and/or rode on a merry-go-round on Black Friday. Once you've stopped running around in circles, you are more than welcome to follow me onTwitter, like my Facebook page, circle my page on Google+ or visit the website. 

The Spin on Black Friday. Or is it Thursday?

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Take your pick. So many choices are available!

Midnight. That’s when stores are opening for Black Friday. Oh! Wait a minute. 

Some of them are opening at 8PM! Hello Wal-Mart, Target, Toys R Us Sears and Kmart! Target, 9PM. Kohl’s and Macy’s and Best Buy are keeping it at midnight. Sure hope you can get a nap in before standing on line and freezing. Brrrrr.

And Nordstrom? They are maintaining their stance on no Holiday décor until Black Friday. Great marketing strategy guys! You are doing a great thing and it makes you shine like a Christmas ball ornament.
Well, I for one am done with the whole Black Friday hoo-ha. How much savings is there anyway? Do people buy MORE because they are “saving”?

Are gifts and who has the latest and greatest or the biggest and the best really important?

Who started this whole Black Friday thing? There’s different explanations for it however the most realistic one is that the term evolved from a statement that the Philadelphia Police Department made in 1966 regarding crowds and traffic jams on the day after Thanksgiving. Guess someone saw a marketing opportunity and ran with that!

Last year, I took a leisurely drive. No, didn’t go too far with the price of gas. It’s amazing how many things one can see that are fifty miles or less from home. And if you are concerned about the price of gas, save money on your drive by packing a picnic lunch! Some advice: Don’t go driving anywhere near a mall or major shopping center and you’ll be just fine! 

Or,

Just sleep in and have a peaceful day at home. Order gifts online. Download a movie you always wanted to see. Gear up for small business Saturday; mom and pop stores are the quiet backbone of this country; they could become tomorrow’s well-known names. Support them and help them grow. That evening, put the radio on and play some board games. Pretend the internet and TV don’t exist just for one day.

Ooooh, scary. Spending time with family and friends! Think about it. What has more long term value: Good conversation, a few laughs and some new memories, or getting on line at 6PM after gobbling turkey so that you can save $10 to get your kid can have a new Xbox game?

Los Bravos sang about the color black back in the 60’s; do you want your baby back? And if you haven’t had enough Black Friday, read more here and here. But wait; there’s more! If you want to read, laugh, and learn, stop by and say hello on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ or the website. 

Where Did Thanksgiving Go?

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On the fourth Thursday of November, lots of people sit down and, well, pig out with too much turkey, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, and a veggie or two until they feel like their stomachs are going to burst.

Wow. Sounds like fun, huh? 

It’s so important that it’s a holiday. You get a day off, with pay. It’s an excuse to see family. You travel by car, you travel by plane, or maybe there’s enough family in your house already! Or, maybe they’re coming to see you.

That first Thanksgiving. Pilgrims. Religion. Turkey wasn’t even the star of the meal! Certainly, this special day has evolved into something else. And, amazingly enough, those pesky marketers have barely begun to take advantage of it, choosing to exploit the “Ho Ho Ho” of Jolly Saint Nick instead. Whatever happened to the Turkey Trot?

In October, the stores were all aglow touting everything orange and black; yes, and some green and purple items too. Costumes, pumpkins, lighting, fog machines. Yeah; we’ve got to have it all!

In the meantime, some stores were already hawking the red and the green; ready to spring into full action. And, the day after Halloween, the leftovers are shoved into a corner and reduced for quick sale. And now it’s time. Suddenly, the red and the green seems to multiply faster than bunny rabbits. The amount of floor space it creeps into is considerable in a cheery effort to make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

And you do. Who doesn’t like pretty lights and elegant trees?
Oh! Wait a minute. What happened to Thanksgiving? Ah, there it is. There’s a couple of different sizes of paper turkeys and some resin varieties too. Well, dear marketers, this is the last frontier; why have you been holding out on us?  Those paper plates would look perfect with a scoop of mashed potatoes on them.

Colors of maize, butternut, and pumpkin with a little red thrown in. A turkey that’s not named Tom, nor is a butterball, that doesn’t wind up on someone’s table. The first Thanksgiving had seafood and other fowl besides turkey. Why hasn’t someone created cartoon characters and a whole new tradition with an annual TV special? Oh, if this has been done, pardon me!

C’mon marketing powers that be: Get those thinking caps on. Oh! The opportunity! Dancing clams and lobsters! Thanksgiving swans!  The possibilities are endless.

Wait! Maybe there is a light at the end of tunnel after all, and its name is Walmart! Walmart has boldly stepped where other stores have feared to go; for your consideration and to avoid having you trampled on by over-excited sale seekers they are opening at 8PM on Thanksgiving! Jolly good, now we can walk off those calories and belch our way through the aisles of bargains and buy Christmas stuff! Should we be thanking them for this extraordinary opportunity? 

Brace yourselves, folks. The holiday season is almost here. And for me? I’m still basking in the orange glow of Halloween! There are still a few light sets left to take in from outside. Eh, I’ll put them inside my home after Thanksgiving!

We're not talking turkey! Visit the website, Facebook page, Google+ page or tweet with us. 

Was Black Friday Good For You?

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Yesterday, I took a leisurely drive, stopping along the way to take photos of interesting subject matter. Had lunch in a storefront diner in a historic downtown; strolled the area after chowing down a tuna melt and marveled at the rickety, wooden sidewalks. Truly a time warp, and not many people there.

During my drive I spied an old orange juice stand shaped like an orange, countless old motels (oops, motor lodges), and lots of used car dealerships. Route 66! It was a peaceful few hours, except for the two times where I drove too close to shopping malls and wound up in traffic jams.

What’s wrong with this picture? Am I crazy for not participating in Black Friday?
Gee...what did I miss?

• Saving a few bucks
• Seeing people shoving each other
• Feeling claustrophobic
• Waiting on line
• Screaming, angry people
• Dodging shopping carts
• An opportunity to get pepper sprayed

What did I gain from not going?

• Peace of mind
• Lack of stress
• Sleep
• Great sight seeing
...and perhaps a pound from the mayonnaise in my tuna melt.

What did I "lose" from not participating in Black Friday?

• About a half a tank of gas ($25)
• The cost of a tuna melt (it even came with a peach half!) and a diet coke.
• The opportunity to experience anything in the “miss” list.

Is it marketing’s fault? Nah. No one is going to put the blame on all those ads we’ve been bombarded with for the last two weeks. After all, the call of the Xbox, beckoning you, has nothing to do with any big box’s promotions, right?

Is it simply having a day off, many with pay, and “nothing to do”? Are we expected to shop on this day? We’re led to believe it. It seems that the day after Thanksgiving has turned into a chore instead of a calming, relaxing day off. Surely your employers meant it to be more of a recreational, spend time with your family day, however, the recreation nowadays consists of who you can elbow out of the way.

Today, as I write this, there’s a new movement emerging: Small Business Saturday. Big box stores? Fuhgeddaboudit! It’s time to put the nickels and dimes back into the hands of the “Moms and Pops”. No, you won’t save as much money. So buy a little less…do you really NEED all that "stuff", anyway? We salute American Express for fostering this movement in 2010. Granted, some of us do not possess that particular card, but heck, we’re shopping anyway! Now, off to visit some antique malls.  Don’t you just love those one of a kind gifts?

Why is Friday Black?

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Are you curious about the term “Black Friday”? I was. So I looked it up. The best explanation attributes it to a statement made by the Philadelphia Police Department in 1966 as a reference to traffic jams and crowds in that fair city on the day after Thanksgiving.

Another source says it’s from the 70’s.

But perhaps none of that matters. To some, it’s a day that no one wants to be involved with. For others, it means getting Guitar Hero at half price.

And it’s no longer Friday. Wal Mart opens at 10PM on Thanksgiving evening this year for Black Friday. With this lousy economy, were employees were lining up to make a few extra bucks despite missing out on festivities at home?

Many big box stores will open at midnight, including Kohl’s, Macy’s, Target and Best Buy. Will you be on line, waiting to get in?

Two years ago, I stood outside of a Target at 4:30AM. Luckily, it was in Southern California, and a comfortable 55 degrees. Now keep in mind, for native Californians, this is more aligned to 20 degrees to them. Many wore heavy winter coats. My New Jersey blood merely required a lightweight fleece pullover.

The 200 plus strong crowd politely waited on line and made the best of it. For most, it was an adventure; on a scale of were conquering the challenge of climbing Mount Everest. The gleam of realizing great values and saving megabucks was shining in many pairs of eyes. I spoke with the people both in front and behind me; all were laughing, smiling, and eager to get inside for those door busters!

My day was carefully mapped out in advance. At Target, there were four items, and nothing more. Swooping in, pushing a cart rapidly, and 10 minutes later, I was checking out. Done. Moving on to the next few stores, again, grabbing exactly what I wanted, surrendering a coupon or two and leaving, I was ready to treat myself to a big breakfast by 9. By 10:30, safely home. Whew.

I will never do that again. Why? I felt no holiday spirit. Sure, it’s about giving, but it felt like I was playing a game.

Frankly, I’m already tired of the Black Friday ads on TV as well as the news articles. On Today, they discussed how to get the most out of Black Friday shopping. I can tell you how to accomplish that as well.

Stay home.

Yes, I write about marketing. But there’s a breaking point for all of us. And marketing should not be a part of your lives 24 hours a day. Black Friday is a day off, with pay, for many people. Spend it with friends and family. Play a game, an old-fashioned board game. Watch a movie that you meant to watch 6 months ago. Make a big plate of lasagna and hold off on leftover turkey until Saturday. Take a walk around the block and notice things you’ve never slowed down to see. If you must shop, the world is at your fingertips. Celebrate the day. For you.

There will be more sales. Black Friday isn’t THE only day for bargains. But we sure are made to believe so.